500 Festival

With a rich history spanning 100 years, no other singular sporting event has a legacy like the Indianapolis 500. No other organization captures the significance of the month-long celebration surrounding the Indy 500 quite like the 500 Festival. The 500 Festival, a not-for-profit volunteer organization, was created in 1957 to organize civic events celebrating the Indianapolis 500. 60+ years later, the 500 Festival is one of the largest and most respected festivals in the nation, adding to the quality of life for Indiana’s citizens and their guests.

Each year, the 500 Festival brings more than half a million people to the heart of Indiana to celebrate the magical month of May. Whether they are participants in one of the nation's largest half marathons, fourth-grade students in the Education Program, families enjoying the state's largest festival for kids, or spectators at one of the nation's largest parades, there’s nothing quite like Indy’s electricity leading up to the Indianapolis 500.